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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development by certain entities providing electric |
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service in the ERCOT power region of a communication plan for use |
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during a weather emergency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.075, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The commission by rule shall require each electric |
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cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and |
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distribution utility providing transmission service in the ERCOT |
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power region to develop a communication plan for use during a |
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weather emergency. The communication plan must: |
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(1) include the operation by the cooperative or |
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utility of a priority telephone hotline to allow only the following |
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types of customers to report and request information regarding a |
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power outage, including requesting an estimated time for |
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restoration of electric service: |
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(A) critical care residential customers, as |
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defined by Section 17.002; |
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(B) critical load industrial customers, as |
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defined by Section 17.002; |
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(C) facilities listed in Section 38.072(b); and |
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(D) customers designated as critical load |
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according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; and |
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(2) describe the methods the cooperative or utility |
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will use to inform customers described by Subdivision (1) about the |
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priority telephone hotline. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |